Expansion of 116 Purumi Recycling Stations in Seongdong-gu

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu (center in the photo), conducting sorting work with resource managers at the recycling station.

Seongdong Purumi Recycling Stations Operate at 116 Locations Across 17 Neighborhoods with 232 Resource Managers Deployed

Recycling Station Operation Boosts Recycling Sorting Rate from 55% in 2020 to 75% in 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will expand the operation of the resource circulation project, ‘Seongdong Purumi Recycling Stations’ (hereafter Recycling Stations), aimed at improving the culture of separating recyclables in residential areas, to 116 locations this year.

The Recycling Stations install mobile separation bins in residential alleyways twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays from 7 PM to 9 PM for two hours. Residents and resource managers work together to properly separate and dispose of eight types of recyclables, including transparent PET bottles, cans, and scrap metal.

Seongdong-gu has gradually expanded the Recycling Stations from 6 locations in 2020, to 102 in 2021, 112 in 2022, and 116 in 2023. A total of 232 resource managers work in pairs at the stations operating across 17 neighborhoods. Additionally, the operating hours, which previously varied between winter and summer, have been fixed this year to run year-round from 7 PM to 9 PM.

Through the operation of these Recycling Stations, Seongdong-gu’s recycling sorting rate increased from 55% in 2020 to 75% in 2022. This figure significantly exceeds the average sorting rate of 60.1% among 14 public sorting facilities in Seoul’s autonomous districts in 2021.

In particular, transparent PET bottles with labels removed were recognized as top-grade quality by processing companies, with the selling price set at 606 KRW/kg in the second half of last year. The revenue from sales of various recyclables collected through the stations and delivered to resource recovery centers reached approximately 1.95 billion KRW in 2022, a 51% increase compared to about 1.29 billion KRW in 2021.

Furthermore, to encourage participation in separation and disposal, the district now provides residents participating in the Recycling Station project with both general household volume-based waste bags (10ℓ) and food waste volume-based bags (3ℓ), allowing residents to choose either one.

An official from the district stated, “Previously, recyclables were indiscriminately disposed of in front of houses in residential areas, but with the operation of the stations, proper disposal has been achieved, improving sorting rates and keeping the alleyways clean.”

Additionally, the district supports resident-led activities for reducing household waste and proper recycling separation through the ‘Resident Contest Project for Reducing Household Waste.’ As part of this project, the ‘Seongdong Resource Manager Community Building’ initiative held five workshops last December to share know-how on recycling separation and station operation with residents and resource managers. Based on this, the ‘Seongdong Proper Separation Forum’ was held on the 11th.

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “With the ongoing cold wave and climate crisis, local governments must actively respond. We will continue to lead as a resource circulation city by promoting various projects such as coffee grounds recycling, ice pack and waste fabric recycling.”

Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Signs MOU with 9 Companies Regarding Banghwa Construction Waste Site

Achievement in MOU Among ‘Seoul City, Gangseo-gu, and Gimpo City’ Within Two Months; 9 Company Representatives Pledge Active Cooperation for Banghwa Construction Waste Site Relocation

‘Gangseo-gu’s Long-Awaited Problem Solver’ Mayor Kim Receives Community Praise for Swift Action

Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, is accelerating efforts to resolve residents’ long-standing concerns by achieving significant progress in relocating the Banghwa-dong construction waste site.

The district announced that it has signed a business agreement with all nine waste disposal companies involved in the relocation of the Banghwa-dong construction waste treatment site.

This agreement is a major achievement reached just over two months after the MOU signed last November with Seoul City and Gimpo City.

The signing ceremony was held at 11 AM on the 26th in the district office’s main conference room, where representatives of the nine companies attended in person to sign the ‘Business Agreement for the Relocation of Banghwa-dong Construction Waste Site’ with Mayor Kim.

The agreement includes commitments to ▲prompt relocation of companies once the new site is confirmed ▲efforts to secure alternative sites for the construction waste site relocation ▲active cooperation to improve the surrounding environment to alleviate residents’ inconveniences such as dust and noise, aiming for a swift relocation of the construction waste site.

To reach this agreement, under Mayor Kim’s leadership, the district held multiple meetings and interviews with the companies, achieving consensus through continuous understanding and persuasion.

The district expects that relocating both the Banghwa-dong construction waste site and the vehicle depot simultaneously will return over 100,000 pyeong (approximately 330,000 square meters) of land to the residents.

Moreover, the district plans to utilize this land to create a large park featuring a peak tram and theme park stretching from the Han River to Gaehwasan, turning it into a representative tourist attraction of Seoul and a space for residents.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, “To make Gangseo-gu the safest and most livable city, I will continue to communicate and cooperate with related local governments and companies to ensure the relocation of the construction waste site. I will always work hard on the ground until all residents’ long-awaited projects are resolved, striving to be a ‘problem-solving mayor.’”

Meanwhile, the local community has praised Mayor Kim, who has achieved successive results within six months of taking office, including the construction waste site relocation agreement, designation of nine Moa Town sites (ranked first in Seoul), and selection as the final candidate site for the largest-ever urban public housing complex project, calling him a ‘competent mayor’ and ‘Gangseo-gu’s problem solver.’

Gwangjin-gu Provides Free Replacement of Household Food Waste Collection Containers

Old or Damaged Containers Replaced with 20ℓ Flat-Bottomed Containers

Residents Can Apply in Person at Their Neighborhood Community Centers Throughout the Year

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is offering free replacement of household food waste collection containers.

When food waste containers used at home become old or damaged, residues and odors can leak from various parts, making hygienic disposal difficult. To support hygienic food waste management and create a clean street environment, the district has decided to implement a free container replacement project.

This free replacement service will be available throughout this year. Residents wishing to replace their containers can apply in person at their neighborhood community centers and receive a 20ℓ food waste collection container with a flat bottom.

Once the new container is distributed, the old container should be disposed of as large waste. Residents can attach a collection sticker to the old container and place it in front of their door for collection without any fee.

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, “Through container replacement, residents will be able to dispose of food waste more neatly. At the same time, the city’s appearance will be improved, and the street environment will become cleaner.”

Meanwhile, replacement of food waste collection containers for general and restaurant businesses or other commercial establishments will be conducted in April. For restaurants, the replacement will be carried out through visits by container cleaning companies.